This year, fans of food and wine will be able to enjoy the Hawai’i Food & Wine Festival once again. This year’s event will be the first time the festival has been put on since the devastating Lahaina fire in August 2023.
The event will take place in Kā’anapali, a resort community around four miles north of Lahaina. It will run from October 25 to 27 and is being marketed as a major step in Maui’s economic recovery since the fire.
More on the Hawai’i Food & Wine Festival
The Hawai’i Food & Wine Festival, or HMWF, has been a major festival for local and visiting foodies. The event sees over a hundred chefs and personalities in the food industry participate in events where they have to use ingredients from local producers.
This year, the event organizers are partnering with Kā‘anapali Beach Resort Association to raise money for the recovery of Lahaina and the region. Since 2011, the festival has donated over $5 million to Hawaiian organizations that support sustainability, cultural programs, and agricultural education.
The festival organizers are also partnering with the Sheraton Maui Resort & Spa, Royal Lahaina Resort & Bungalows, and other local businesses to help coordinate the festival’s events. On top of the culinary highlights are events such as the sold-out Roy Yamaguchi Golf Classic.
The Lahaina Fire, a Year Later
A year after the devastating Lahaina fire claimed the lives of over 100 residents, the community is rebuilding. Slowly, visitors are returning to Maui and local communities are putting their resources into local businesses and charities.
The fire started on August 8 as a brush fire. It then quickly spread west, fueled by intense wins brought on by the nearby Hurricane Dora. 102 people lost their lives and over 2,500 buildings were destroyed.
Amongst the rubble, the town’s 150-year-old banyan tree remarkably recovered. The tree was planted in 1873 and became one of the town’s most popular attractions. Along with it, the community in Lahaina continues to rebuild and look to the future.